Erin Jefferys, who graduated this week from BA Graphic Design at University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Swansea College of Art, won a paid internship with Sky Creative after they spotted her work at New Designers exhibition in London.
Erin was exhibiting a portfolio of degree work alongside fellow students from Swansea College of Art and hundreds of other UK universities when her talent was spotted by the entertainment giant, who singled her out to be awarded a paid internship opportunity with their design team.
Sky Creative chose Erin as winner out of all Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation, Motion and Digital Arts exhibitors at New Designers, awarding the prize to “the person who demonstrates a desire to believe in better. A thirst to progress product, craft and execution to the next level. Someone with exceptional design skills, who can come up with a unique idea and bring it to life. An idea we wish we’d thought of.”
Erin says: “I was raised in different countries all over the world by people who taught me that it didn’t make a difference where you lived, what language you spoke or what colour your skin was, everyone was equal.” She describes her winning work as “a personal reflection on the embodiment of culture in South Africa, alongside my blissful naivety of growing up as a white South African in Africa.”
Donna Williams, Programme Manager for Graphic Design at UWTSD, says: “What a fantastic result for Erin Jefferys with a huge award from Sky Creative for her Independent Project. It’s such a pleasure to share the students’ project outcomes with industry at New Designers and for students to receive such positive feedback.
“Every student gets contact with creative industries, and we’re glad to facilitate this by taking students up to New Designers in London each year. Sky Creative are Europe’s biggest in-house creative agency, and the opportunity will be an excellent start to Erin’s career.”
Gavin Kirby, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, says: “UWTSD’s Swansea college of Art has been continuously complimented on how professional, industry-ready and ahead with skills our graduates are. This is a validation of what we teach on the BA Graphic Design – Erin is no exception. We wish her the very best for her internship and future beyond it, which I’m sure will be bright.”
